Golf shoe with integrated golf club cleaner

ABSTRACT

The invention is a unique golf club cleaner integrated into the sole of a golf shoe. In one embodiment of the invention the club cleaner is integrated with the golf shoe sole in a single injection mold shank. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the sole of the golf shoe comprises holes that matingly engage and secure individual, removable cleats or spikes. The club face cleaner is adapted to matingly and removably engage with any one of the holes. In both embodiments, the club face cleaner is positioned in any one of several areas on the sole of the right or left golf shoe, such as the arch side of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the shoe, or the external (i.e., small toe side) of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the shoe.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a golf shoe wherein the sole of the golf shoe includes an integrated golf club cleaner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the sport of golf, a club is used to strike a ball lying upon a surface, or slightly elevated by a golf tee. Accordingly, the head of the golf club often becomes soiled with pieces of vegetation, soil, and/or other debris when the club strikes the ball. This problem is heightened where the golf club is used on a golf course or driving range and multiples of ball strikes occur within a short period of time. Consequently, soiling of the club head presents a persistent annoyance to golfers, affecting the use and accuracy of the soiled clubs. Therefore, the club head must regularly be cleaned.

Golfers typically employ a plurality of techniques for cleaning various types of debris from golf clubs. For example, some golfers may carry a towel that is used to wipe down the golf club face. However, this technique is of limited utility. First, since it is cumbersome and unsightly to carry such towels on ones person, these towels are usually affixed to the users golf club bag or golf club bag carrier, such as a pull cart or golf cart. As a result, it is common for the towel to be lost on a golf course or driving range during play or inadvertently left behind on the rented golf club bag carriers, causing disruption in play and persistent aggravation. More significantly, however, such towels are easily soiled, particularly where golf balls are struck off of wet or muddy surfaces. After limited use, the towel is typically soiled to a point where it cannot effectively remove debris from the golf club face.

Other golfers prefer to use a handheld golf brush to clean the face of their golf clubs. Such brushes typically consist of a handle having a wide base with a large number of bristles. As with the towels discussed above, these brushes are usually attached to the users golf club bag or bag carrier. Consequently, handheld brushes are, likewise, frequently lost or misplaced during play or left behind after play has concluded. Unlike a towel, however, it is not uncommon for a golfer to carry the brush in his or her pocket during play. While this may reduce the risk of loss or misplacement, carrying the brush in a pocket presents other problems for the typical golfer, such as causing distraction or discomfort during the golf swing or causing clothing to become overly soiled and unsightly.

Furthermore, the use of a handheld brush to clean the face of a golf club presents additional problems for the user. First, using the brush is often awkward or difficult, particularly for smaller or handicapped golfers. The user is required to hold and stabilize the club in one hand and the brush in the other hand while scrubbing the clubface. Where the club is wet or muddy, this is not always an easy task. Additionally, brushes are typically ineffective and inconvenient for removing some types of debris. For example, where the club face is soiled with dew or grass, the golfer is often forced to resort to a secondary measure for cleaning the club face, such as hand or foot.

Not surprisingly then, another method that many golfers employ in cleaning a golf club face is wiping the club face with the toe or heel of the golfer's golf shoe in a gentle kicking or rubbing motion. Unlike the above-described methods, use of the golf shoe in cleaning a soiled club face is typically consistently effective. The risk of loss or misplacement of the cleaning implement is virtually eliminated and the golf shoe is easily accessible to the golfer, thereby reducing delays or disruption of play. And while the spikes or softspikes® found on most golf shoes often prove effective in removing most types of debris from the club face, the golf shoes presently available are not designed for use in cleaning the face of a soiled golf club.

What is needed then is an improved device for efficiently and effectively cleaning the face of a soiled golf club that capitalizes on the accessibility and durability of the typical golf shoe. More specifically, what is needed is an improvement over the prior art that is abrasive enough to effectively remove all types of debris from a club head, provides convenient access for the golfer, and is easy and uncumbersome to use. The present invention achieves these goals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, a unique golf club face cleaner integrated into the sole of a golf shoe is presented. In one embodiment of the invention the club face cleaner is integrated with the golf shoe sole in a single injection mold shank. In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, the sole of the golf shoe comprises holes that matingly engage and secure individual, removable cleats or spikes. The club face cleaner is adapted to matingly and removably engage with any one of the holes. In both embodiments, the club face cleaner is positioned in any one of several areas on the sole of the right or left golf shoe, such as the arch side of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the shoe, or the external (i.e., small toe side) of the shoe, proximate to the toe end or the heel end of the shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a top view of a golf shoe with integrated club face cleaner according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom, angled view of a golf shoe with integrated club face cleaner according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, the shoe is generally an ordinary golf shoe, made of any appropriate material, comprising a top portion and a sole 2. The club face cleaner is the extended toe portion or protrusion 1, which extends, in the preferred embodiment, from the side of the toe end of the shoe. As shown in FIG. 1, the club face cleaner 1 extends from the arch side of the sole of the right shoe, as would be most appropriate for a right-handed golfer. However, though not illustrated, the club face cleaner 1 may also extend from the arch side of the sole of the left shoe, proximate to the toe end of the shoe for a left-handed golfer. Additionally, the club face cleaner 1 may alternatively extend from the external side of the sole of the right or left shoe proximate to the toe end of the shoe. Likewise, though not depicted, the club face cleaner 1 may extend from the arch side or external side of the sole proximate to the heel end of the shoe, as appropriate for the left or right-handed golfer.

Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the club face cleaner 1 is continuous with the sole 2, created in the mold from which the sole 2 is produced. The cleaner 1 will, in the preferred embodiment have the same or similar cleating (i.e., surface structure) as the remainder of sole 2. The sole 2 of the golf shoe will be made of any industry appropriate material, including but not limited to rubber, injection molded shank, or including holes capable of matingly engaging with individual cleat or spike units.

Though not depicted, where the sole 2 of the shoe comprises holes for matingly engaging individual spike or cleat units, the club face cleaner 1 may be integrated with the sole in the same manner as the individual spike or cleat units. That is to say, instead of being continuous with the molded sole, the club face cleaner 1 is suited to be integrated with the sole by matingly engaging with one of the above-described holes in the sole. Of course the top portion of the golf shoe may be comprised of any appropriate materials and embody any style of shoe, including but not limited to a traditional lace up shoe, a sandal or a slip-on.

Of course, those skilled in the art will immediately recognize that there are other ways that the golf show with integrated club face cleaner can be created to meet the objectives of the invention. The description of the preferred embodiment is therefore not in any way intended to limit the scope of the invention. Likewise, characteristics of the embodiments described herein are not in any way intended to limit the claims unless the characteristic is explicitly described within the body of the claim itself. The wording of the claims of the invention and that alone defines the scope of the invention, and it is the inventor's intention to use words in the claims to express their plain and ordinary meaning from the perspective of one or ordinary skill in the art of the invention, contemplating expressly that said meaning is broader than the characteristics of the preferred embodiment described herein. 

1. A shoe having a toe end, a heel end, an arch side and an external (i.e., small toe) side, wherein the sole includes a protrusion extending from one of either the arch side or the external side of the shoe and suitable for removing debris from the face of a golf club.
 2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the protrusion is continuous with the sole of the shoe.
 3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the sole further includes a plurality of holes for matingly engaging and securing individual spike or cleat units.
 4. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the protrusion is matingly engaged with and secured by one of the plurality of holes. 